Due to an increase in merger and acquisition activity this year, UK companies have been the third most targeted internationally.

According to Proactive Investors, estimates show that over the first nine months of this year, £102.4 billion was spent within the UK on this kind of activity—a 54% increase.

The majority of this came from overseas purchasers, who made about 72% of the total, the highest percentage over the past three years.

One example is Rightmove, news emerged earlier today about the company receiving its fourth takeover offer from Rupert Murdoch's REA Group.

At the same time, activity increased by 79%, with agreements involving UK targets accounting for 6% of worldwide deals. Only the US and China account for more.

According to a report from Proactive Investors, Lucille Jones, senior manager at LSEG Deals Intelligence, stated that the numbers have increased this year due to decreasing political uncertainty in the UK and prospects of more interest rate cuts.

So far this year, the UK has spent over US$52.1 billion (£38.9bn) on ongoing transactions, a 15% increase over last year.

(Sources: investing.com, proactiveinvestors.co.uk)